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Nov 10, 1483
Martin Luther, literacy for all advocate
1483-1546
Luther was the first to advocate literacy for all. He believed that people should find salvation on their own, which meant reading texts, like the Bible, in their native language. The issue of learning in your native language is still a relevant topic today. -
John Locke
1632-1704
Locke developed the theory that the mind is a blank tablet. He believed that the mind developed through experiences and environment. This theory is relevant today with the belief that the earlier education begins, the more likely a child is able to overcome environmental factors. -
Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel
1782-1852
Froebel is known as the "father if the kindergarten." He helped develop the theory that the role of a teacher is to give children activities that will enable them to learn things that they developmentally are ready to learn. He created a curriculum that included materials equivalent to the alphabet, songs, and shapes, to help children learn. Many of his activities in his curriculum are used in modern day early childhood programs, like stringing beads, drawing, and modeling with clay. -
John Dewey
1859-1952
Dewey is credited as one of the most influential people in redirecting the idea of education within the United States. His theory of progressivism focused of the interests of the child. Two common terms that developed from this theory are child-centered curriculum and child-centered school. Many of his school's ideas and principles are relevant and useful in today's classroom. -
National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
The NDEA was created in response to a national fear of the United States falling as a world power. The NDEA was based on the notion that the "best defense is a good (educational) offense." The Act provided federal funding for core subjects in schools. These core classes, like science, math, and technology, are still a huge focus in the school system today. -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act ensured that everyone was entitled to a public education. In 1972, congress amended the Civil Rights Act. The most common amendment is title IX. This amendment ensured that women would have equal opportunities in sports. -
Economic Opportunity Act (EOA)
President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Act as part of his war on poverty. The EOA created programs that focused on health, well-being, and education of people that fell in the low-socioeconomic status. -
Head Start Act
Head Start is a successful educational program that focuses on children and their families in low-socioeconomic groups. It is a program that is active today and is one of the longest standing poverty programs in the United States. Some of the programs within Head Start include Early Head Start, Head Start, and Family and Community Partnerships. -
No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
The NCLB Act focuses on accountability through standardized testing. The Act offers federal funding for school who meet satisfactory standards through student test scores. There has been an ongoing debate that the NCLB relies too much on standardized testing and instead the focus should be on other effective ways of assessment.
